Mike Skinner cast off his role as the perennial bridesmaid of the major music awards when he was named best male solo artist at the Brits last night.

The singer, better known as The Streets, saw off two of television's most successful musical creations - Will Young, the Pop Idol winner, and Lemar, of Fame Academy - to pick up the award on the back of his second hit album, A Grand Don't Come for Free.

The triumph follows two near-misses for the Birmingham-raised singer, whose down-to-earth musings on love, life and loyalty have led him to being branded the voice of British rap.

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Skinner had been a hot favourite to win the 2002 Mercury prize when he was beaten by Ms Dynamite. He was shortlisted again last year but lost out to Franz Ferdinand.

The Glasgow rockers were among the biggest winners last night after being named best British group and best British rock act.

However their success was eclipsed by the Scissor Sisters, the New York dance band, whose eponymous album was last year's unlikely pop pick of Liam Fox, the Tory party co-chairman.

The quintet won awards for best international group, best international album and best international breakthrough act, capping a remarkable year for a band that secured its first hit only 12 month ago.

The group, who opened last night's show with a typically high-energy performance, had to come to Britain to secure a record deal for their debut album, which was last year's biggest seller.

Picking up an award, Jake Shears, the group's lead singer, expressed his gratitude to "the British people". "Thank you for embracing us and giving us the best year of our lives," he said.

And fellow singer Ana Matronic said: "I have Cornish, Welsh and Irish heritage and it's amazing to be embraced by a place that I owe my ginger hair to."

Following criticisms that recent Brits have been too dominated by American acts, the organisers of last night's ceremony at Earl's Court, west London, were keen to accentuate home-grown talent, with performances from Franz Ferdinand, The Streets and Robbie Williams. Natasha Bedingfield was also on stage doing a duet of Chaka Chan's Ain't Nobody with her brother, Daniel.

However, the singer lost out to Joss Stone for the award for best female solo artist. Stone, the 17-year-old diva from Devon, also won the award for best urban act for her second album, Mind, Body and Soul. It meant disappointment for Jamelia, another young British soul singer, who picked up three nominations but no awards.

The Brits, the highlight in the music industry's calendar, have been blighted in the last couple of years by complaints that the event had become too orderly and dull, partly as a result of a ban on alcohol being served at the tables. This year the organisers were once again encouraging the liquid refreshment to flow in the hope that it would encourage a little old rock 'n' roll anarchy.

The alcohol ban was introduced after a series of controversies, including John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, being doused in water and Jarvis Cocker, the Pulp frontman, storming the stage during a performance by Michael Jackson.

The other notable success story was Keane. The trio, who were named after a former childhood nanny, won awards for best album and British breakthrough act.

The band have been derided by some critics for their unthreatening, public school image. But Tom Chaplin, the singer, said last night: "A lot of people don't think it's cool that we have got the guts to be who we are. But it's a vital part of who we are as a band. And this is recognition for that."

The award for best song of the last 25 years - introduced to mark the 25th anniversary of the Brit awards and chosen by popular vote - went to Robbie Williams's Angels.

Williams, for whom it was a record 15th Brit, thanked listeners of Radio 2, who had voted for the award. He said: "I'm amazed that my career keeps on going. And I'm sure there are some in the audience who are, too."

Will Young took the award for best British single for Your Game and Bob Geldof received a special award for outstanding contribution to music.